Former secretary of state speaks with students

Global studies students attended class Wednesday eager to
address their questions about current international issues to guest
lecturer Warren Christopher.

In a lecture and subsequent question-and-answer session, which
was open to other students and community members as well, the
former secretary of state, who served during former President Bill
Clinton’s administration, discussed the actions he thinks the
United States should take in current international affairs.

For the past three years, Christopher has also taught a seminar
at UCLA through the Honors College that focuses on current
international issues.

In his lecture, Christopher offered his outlook on significant
events that took place during his lifetime, highlighting the
Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the assassinations of
former President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and former
Attorney General Bobby Kennedy in the 1960s, and the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

These events changed the world, he said, and, when addressed
together, offer a historical context in which to place the Sept. 11
attacks.

The attacks increased the United States’ sense of
vulnerability and made it evident that the country was subject to
attacks by non-state actors such as a terrorist organization,
Christopher said.

“It changed our whole outlook on the world,” he
said.

Christopher also presented his views on the actions the United
States took following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon.

Invading Afghanistan and expressing commitment to preemptive
action were natural and expected reactions, he said.

But the invasion of Iraq was an unjustifiable course of action,
he said, calling it a “preemptive war rather than a
preemptive attack.”

Following the war in Iraq, Christopher added, some countries are
concerned they might be next to face an invasion from the United
States.

In the question-and-answer session that followed his lecture,
Christopher said one way the United States can rebuild its
reputation is by using its “soft power” ““
offering aid and support around the world.

Christopher also addressed other international issues raised by
students in the audience, including the threat posed to the
international community by the spread of nuclear technology to
state and, possibly, non-state actors.

Today’s global community still faces the risk of a nuclear
attack, he said.

“The nuclear genie might get out of the bottle,” he
said.

Christopher emphasized that the possibility that North Korea
possesses nuclear weapons poses the most dangerous situation U.S.
foreign policy has to address.

North Korea, he said, functions as an irrational society, which
makes it hard to predict actions it may take.

“We need to deal with North Korea with great care,”
he said.

Christopher also emphasized that the United States should employ
diplomacy to negotiate with Iran on its efforts to enrich
uranium.

Iran has said it needs the enriched uranium to produce nuclear
power plants, but the United States and other foreign countries are
worried that the uranium will be used to produce nuclear weapons,
Christopher said.

He added that he has hope that negotiations will prove
effective.

The lecture, which was held in De Neve Auditorium, is the first
of a series of four lectures by influential figures scheduled for
the global studies introductory course. Other speakers are expected
to include former Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade
Representative Mickey Kantor and UCLA Chancellor Albert
Carnesale.

These lectures add to the class by connecting coursework to
real-world events, said Ariele Greenfield, a second-year undeclared
student taking Global Studies 1.

Greenfield added that she appreciated the opportunity to hear a
discussion about what international actions an experienced official
like Christopher believes the United States should take.

Christopher’s career in politics also includes serving as
deputy secretary of state during former President Jimmy
Carter’s administration, during which time he played an
influential role in negotiating the release of American hostages in
Iran in 1979.

But some members of the audience said that while they also
appreciated hearing Christopher speak, they had hoped to hear new
information about current international issues.

Jon Everett, a third-year international development studies
student, said he had hoped that Christopher would suggest more
specific solutions to the global issues that were discussed.